Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson is listed as inactive versus the Bengals on Sunday.
Stevie Johnson inactive for Bills and fantasy owners on Sunday
The Bills were already forced to make do without their starting quarterback, and will now have to get by without their starting wide receiver. We break down the fantasy implications.
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson missed Wednesday and Thursday's practices due to a personal matter, but returned at a limited capacity on Friday. Johnson was knocked-out of the team's matchup versus the Browns last week with a back injury, and even with 10 days between games, Johnson is not yet well enough to return to action.
Fantasy Spin: Johnson isn't the only skill player on the Bills who is ailing, as C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have dealt with recent ankle and thigh injuries respectively. But most importantly, quarterback E.J. Manuel's absence presents a toxic situation under center with Thad Lewis starting. When Johnson returns, he won't have much to look forward to, and neither will his fantasy owners. Once Johnson receives a clean bill of health, he will be the riskiest of flex plays until any consistency can be had from whichever Bills quarterback winds up taking snaps.
As a result, the Bills may have to rely on their ground game to get them by. But even with their respectable one-two punch of Spiller and Jackson, it will be tough sledding for them versus a stout Bengals front seven that has no reason to respect the passing game.
• Week 6 fantasy football rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
